THE Port of Tyne has agreed a contract with one of the UK’s leading importers of plywood.

In an initial three year deal with International Plywood the port will provide office accommodation, cargo handling, covered storage and UK- wide road distribution for timber products that will be shipped from the Baltic states, South East Asia and South America.

Nolan Gray, the port's business development, said: "The Port’s ability to handle larger vessels presents not only greater economies of scale for International Plywood as larger volumes can be handled per shipment but it also creates a positive environmental benefit."